VN Ren'Py My Dorm [v0.18.2 P2 Ch.6] [Trope95]

[FatGiant]

I hope to be able to publish two regular updates in August (10-12.000 words) or a huge one (20-25.000) depending on my work and how much working from home they allow me and if there is a good cliffhanger point. I rather do smaller updates if I can publish every 15-20 days than longer ones taking over a month.


Emma doesn't use it as a real "Dad", she uses it as the Latina/Reaggeton (false) cliché of calling every partner "Papi". She watches too much porn and that's her only experience with sex.
Asking beforehand wouldn't have too much sense, as it's something that hasn't happened yet. Besides, it's Emma, as demonstrated in the morning after, she disregards what the MC chooses in the menus.


Thanks, S1nsational, keeping Betty a secret has been hard, but she will be a great character to advance things in the house.
The girls will start going public at their own pace, I think you will like how I've done the first one to do it voluntarily (not caught).

The MC wants to go public with everyone. Fewer problems for him and less repeating the same sentences to every girl. The girls until now have wanted to keep it private. The revealing will advance at a steady pace from now on.

Yeah, I'm ready...

Do the releases you feel better doing. The 15/20 looks good. Do things as you feel comfortable.
To be honest, My Dorm may profit of a shorter release cycle, to counteract the increasing release cycles of almost every other titles in it's category. The amount of content is quite easily larger than most anyway. From what we can see, the increase in quality of renders and animations and, consequently, the increase in development time, is working against most titles. They either have to make micro updates to keep the Dev cycle short, or, extend the Dev cycle to 3 or 4 times to maintain the same level of content. Extended cycles, bring about supporter fatigue if not on the first or second cycle, but it is an increasing risk.

So, if you feel comfortable with a shorter release cycle, if the amount of content is satisfying (e.g. NOT micro), it will by default win you a bigger spot. MB did it with GH, it was a risk that only Talothral had taken recently, it is working wonders. Neither are on the top tier of render quality, they don't need to be. They are however, on the top tier of attention retention. While I, and probably almost everyone, like pretty graphics (Think Red Lucy) a constant flow of satisfying amounts of content is a different league altogether.

Peace

 

[Trope95]

Yeah, I'm ready...

Do the releases you feel better doing. The 15/20 looks good. Do things as you feel comfortable.
To be honest, My Dorm may profit of a shorter release cycle, to counteract the increasing release cycles of almost every other titles in it's category. The amount of content is quite easily larger than most anyway. From what we can see, the increase in quality of renders and animations and, consequently, the increase in development time, is working against most titles. They either have to make micro updates to keep the Dev cycle short, or, extend the Dev cycle to 3 or 4 times to maintain the same level of content. Extended cycles, bring about supporter fatigue if not on the first or second cycle, but it is an increasing risk.

So, if you feel comfortable with a shorter release cycle, if the amount of content is satisfying (e.g. NOT micro), it will by default win you a bigger spot. MB did it with GH, it was a risk that only Talothral had taken recently, it is working wonders. Neither are on the top tier of render quality, they don't need to be. They are however, on the top tier of attention retention. While I, and probably almost everyone, like pretty graphics (Think Red Lucy) a constant flow of satisfying amounts of content is a different league altogether.

Peace

The 15/20 days cycle will only apply to August because it's possible I'm on ward duty in my job, so only reacting to things happening and no regular work, so I can (if nothing happens) easily spend 12h/day on My Dorm. If I went down to the 15/20 days for regular updates it would be too short. As you know, the average update is around 16.000 words with 28 days of development. If I go down to 15/20 it would be around 8-11.000, and you see that people complain that they are already short.

I did some unfair numbers (I say unfair because every game is a different world and comparing them is difficult) some days ago on my Discord:
Moon publishes every 15 days with around 500-600 renders (33-40 renders/day) he doesn't give numbers about words.
Another dev has published two updates of his second game in 442 days (from the first release to 0.3). 6.000 (13.6/day) renders and around than 93.000 words (210/day)
They are both extremes, but I rather get small updates than huge updates with comparatively less content (even doubling the second dev numbers because he's doing two games, one of them not rendered, he is far from Moon).
I'm in the middle, 28 days average, 585 words/day, and 29.7 renders/day.

 

[FatGiant]

The 15/20 days cycle will only apply to August because it's possible I'm on ward duty in my job, so only reacting to things happening and no regular work, so I can (if nothing happens) easily spend 12h/day on My Dorm. If I went down to the 15/20 days for regular updates it would be too short. As you know, the average update is around 16.000 words with 28 days of development. If I go down to 15/20 it would be around 8-11.000, and you see that people complain that they are already short.

I did some unfair numbers (I say unfair because every game is a different world and comparing them is difficult) some days ago on my Discord:
Moon publishes every 15 days with around 500-600 renders (33-40 renders/day) he doesn't give numbers about words.
Another dev has published two updates of his second game in 442 days (from the first release to 0.3). 6.000 (13.6/day) renders and around than 93.000 words (210/day)
They are both extremes, but I rather get small updates than huge updates with comparatively less content (even doubling the second dev numbers because he's doing two games, one of them not rendered, he is far from Moon).
I'm in the middle, 28 days average, 585 words/day, and 29.7 renders/day.

I'm sorry for misunderstanding. I was under the impression that it would be a permanent thing, without even taking in consideration that you DO have a full time job. Now I feel silly.

But as I said, do what feels comfortable. And your numbers look GOOD. Especially because GH is MB's job since last summer (I think) if you are on the race AND having another full time job, I'm afraid that it may be too much bro. Don't burn out.

Peace

 

[Scotsman1989]

Got a question.

Whats goin on with Anthony?
The girly looking male receptionist at the college deans office.

 

[lancekro]

Emma doesn't use it as a real "Dad", she uses it as the Latina/Reaggeton (false) cliché of calling every partner "Papi". She watches too much porn and that's her only experience with sex.
Asking beforehand wouldn't have too much sense, as it's something that hasn't happened yet. Besides, it's Emma, as demonstrated in the morning after, she disregards what the MC chooses in the menus.

I understand your point but she did watch some incest porn and in this kind of porn the characters usualy call each other by their relations (sis, bro, mom, son...) or by name. That's the reason why I have a problem with the "daddy" thing.

 

[Trope95]

I'm sorry for misunderstanding. I was under the impression that it would be a permanent thing, without even taking in consideration that you DO have a full time job. Now I feel silly.

But as I said, do what feels comfortable. And your numbers look GOOD. Especially because GH is MB's job since last summer (I think) if you are on the race AND having another full time job, I'm afraid that it may be too much bro. Don't burn out.

Peace

Don't be sorry and don't feel silly. I'm too new in this world to earn enough to leave my (relatively well-paid) job as of now. Is it my target in the long run? I would love to work full-time on this, but right now (and with how taxes work in Spain) it's unrealistic with the monthly growth I have.

Don't worry about burnouts. My wife forces me to sleep, eat, and spend family time. She is so selfish...

Got a question.

Whats goin on with Anthony?
The girly looking male receptionist at the college deans office.

Right now he has only appeared that time, but he will return (soon).

 

[keefer43]

Yes, she will have sex with the MC (and no one else) in one of the next 6 updates. I won't disclose which one.
EDIT: (and no other male)

I'm at a loss for the usual words.

 

[coretex]

Having perused the last couple pages ..
TropecitaGames you are awesome.
Just another worthy reason I support you - having seen the updates on the patreon page - just keep doin what you are doing!

 

[Trope95]

Having perused the last couple pages ..
TropecitaGames you are awesome.
Just another worthy reason I support you - having seen the updates on the patreon page - just keep doin what you are doing!

Thanks, coretex.
The idea is not to keep doing it. It's improving it with every update. You guys deserve it!

 

[512]

Just caught up with the latest few updates, hadn't played in a while. I love seeing that they've introduced two realistically proportioned plus-sized characters (a rarity on this site).

Unfortunately, they're doing the same shit every other dev does when this happens - which is to make that character's body the focal point of their dialogue. Foe example, there's multiple scenes where Kate (the character in question) is calling attention to how much she's eating, which is super lame. She's in there because you thought your audience would like her, so give her a personality that isn't just "hey, my body is different from everyone else's." Same thing applies for the muscular girl whose body is on the other end of the spectrum.

 

[Trope95]

Just caught up with the latest few updates, hadn't played in a while. I love seeing that they've introduced two realistically proportioned plus-sized characters (a rarity on this site).

Unfortunately, they're doing the same shit every other dev does when this happens - which is to make that character's body the focal point of their dialogue. Foe example, there's multiple scenes where Kate (the character in question) is calling attention to how much she's eating, which is super lame. She's in there because you thought your audience would like her, so give her a personality that isn't just "hey, my body is different from everyone else's." Same thing applies for the muscular girl whose body is on the other end of the spectrum.

Kate likes to eat and joke. She hasn't any complex about her body, but she knows how she looks. It is "Before you laugh at me, I'll laugh at myself and you can't use my weight to attack me." She still doesn't know the other characters enough to joke about them, so she makes fun of herself. It's that or joking about Lisa, who she doesn't care about; but Kate wants to be on good terms with the rest of the people.
She is much more than a meatball with legs, as will be shown in the next updates.

About the other side of the spectrum, Debbie, she is on the other side in more issues than only the physical. She is self-conscious of her height, her muscles, and her masculine body in general. She has a big complex about it. She has lived all her life under Lisa's shadow, and had been compared to her being on the losing side. Lisa was the one who was beautiful, the one who had curves in the right places, the one who had friends (not the kind of friends I would want)... Lisa was the princess. Debbie was the freak who only served for sport. When people asked Lisa what was her dream wedding, those same people asked Debbie what was her WNBA favorite team. She will evolve, with the MC's (or other girls' if the player ignores her) help.

 

[FatGiant]

Just caught up with the latest few updates, hadn't played in a while. I love seeing that they've introduced two realistically proportioned plus-sized characters (a rarity on this site).

Unfortunately, they're doing the same shit every other dev does when this happens - which is to make that character's body the focal point of their dialogue. Foe example, there's multiple scenes where Kate (the character in question) is calling attention to how much she's eating, which is super lame. She's in there because you thought your audience would like her, so give her a personality that isn't just "hey, my body is different from everyone else's." Same thing applies for the muscular girl whose body is on the other end of the spectrum.

In my eyes, both Kate and Debbie, have been given a few "extra" personality points. Debbie is the sweetest, calm, self effacing and shy and Katie is the funny, friendly, easy going and cool. Neither of them is dependent of their physical attributes to shine.

Maybe you should replay these latest updates. I think that you may have focused in the wrong things there.

Peace

 

[keefer43]

Will you read this answer? If you do, yes. You can ignore every girl or go for every one of them.

With a Melon ?!

 

[xapican]

Why the fuck would you complain about optional content? You don't have to do it, it's optional.

Interesting the other day we were fooling around about the Chechovs gun principle in AVN and Novels, (in fact this is aplied to TV Series and movies as well) and I read a interesting article from a german author in were she, says that this principle, should be used very carefully, because it kills the anticipacion, and makes the series somewhat predictable and takes away the suspense.
I'm seeing this in much of the Novels, and in this case" Kate is lesbian and she is introduced in to the dorm, the game has optinal lesbian / bi content; hence : there will be unavoidable lesbian content introduced, I read his post ( afortunatly Trope answerd much nicer as I was tempted to reply) and after calming down, I could percieve more an expressed fear, than anything.
Basicly he aplied Chechov's gun .
I could be terrible wrong with my Interpretation of course.
edit. : shit my point ! My point is that one is too used with this kind of development of storys, (many examples here on this site) so automaticaly if something is hinted one expects it to be used and all could take a turn to dislike.

 

[xapican]

Ok since the Autor of it facepalmed my post it is obvious that the theory doesn't apply
thanks for the Reaction bud

 

[MarsUltor]

Interesting the other day we were fooling around about the Chechovs gun principle in AVN and Novels, (in fact this is aplied to TV Series and movies as well) and I read a interesting article from a german author in were she, says that this principle, should be used very carefully, because it kills the anticipacion, and makes the series somewhat predictable and takes away the suspense.
I'm seeing this in much of the Novels, and in this case" Kate is lesbian and she is introduced in to the dorm, the game has optinal lesbian / bi content; hence : there will be unavoidable lesbian content introduced, I read his post ( afortunatly Trope answerd much nicer as I was tempted to reply) and after calming down, I could percieve more an expressed fear, than anything.
Basicly he aplied Chechov's gun .
I could be terrible wrong with my Interpretation of course.
edit. : shit my point ! My point is that one is too used with this kind of development of storys, (many examples here on this site) so automaticaly if something is hinted one expects it to be used and all could take a turn to dislike.

I agree with the perspective my friend xapican expressed regarding Chekhov's Gun; if authors/developers adhere to the Chekhov's Gun stylistic device too rigidly, they run the risk of overthinking every minuscule detail of the plot, and the readers/players would generally be compelled to do the same. Sometimes some of the details should be there just to contribute to the overall ambience of the story... and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

It's basically like I said before in my metaphor about a master chef always knowing a given recipe (i.e., stylistic device) by heart, but never following said "recipe" precisely; instead choosing to experiment and come up with their own signature style. The same concept holds true for deus ex machina, Schrodinger's cat, etc., etc.

-----------
Regarding our pugnacious "friend" who managed to follow up their whining about the gender-attraction tendencies of one recently introduced character, and their whining about the very existence of all of the other recently introduced characters, by digitally projectile-vomiting all over this thread, that's what tends to happen when a troll engorges themself on the responses to the bile they initially spew. I guess the takeaway is that, while troll-feeding can be tempting (and fun sometimes), it also can get a bit messy, and the "smell" of all that digital retching is... well, retched.

 

[MarsUltor]

Done. It's the only Guaraná I can drink, tried a few others, blargh... Their beer is also nice, been a while since I've had the pleasure. Not very common around here.

Peace

It's not very common here in the U.S., either, and generally costs about 2-3 times as much as common sodas, but I have my sources...

 

[Elhemeer]

I agree with the perspective my friend xapican expressed regarding Chekhov's Gun; if authors/developers adhere to the Chekhov's Gun stylistic device too rigidly, they run the risk of overthinking every minuscule detail of the plot, and the readers/players would generally be compelled to do the same. Sometimes some of the details should be there just to contribute to the overall ambience of the story... and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

It's basically like I said before in my metaphor about a master chef always knowing a given recipe (i.e., stylistic device) by heart, but never following said "recipe" precisely; instead choosing to experiment and come up with their own signature style. The same concept holds true for deus ex machina, Schrodinger's cat, etc., etc.

-----------
Regarding our pugnacious "friend" who managed to follow up their whining about the gender-attraction tendencies of one recently introduced character, and their whining about the very existence of all of the other recently introduced characters, by digitally projectile-vomiting all over this thread, that's what tends to happen when a troll engorges themself on the responses to the bile they initially spew. I guess the takeaway is that, while troll-feeding can be tempting (and fun sometimes), it also can get a bit messy, and the "smell" of all that digital retching is... well, retched.

*This message has been brought to you by "FARL" (Fappers Against Reaction Limits)*

 

[512]

In my eyes, both Kate and Debbie, have been given a few "extra" personality points. Debbie is the sweetest, calm, self effacing and shy and Katie is the funny, friendly, easy going and cool. Neither of them is dependent of their physical attributes to shine.

Maybe you should replay these latest updates. I think that you may have focused in the wrong things there.

Peace

In my eyes, both Kate and Debbie, have been given a few "extra" personality points. Debbie is the sweetest, calm, self effacing and shy and Katie is the funny, friendly, easy going and cool. Neither of them is dependent of their physical attributes to shine.

Maybe you should replay these latest updates. I think that you may have focused in the wrong things there.

Peace

All I'm saying is that it just comes off as super cliche when we get two scenes in the span of two (in-game) days where the big girl is going "look, I'm eating more than everyone else." It's a bad trope and lazy writing in a game full of good writing.

 

[S1nsational]

All I'm saying is that it just comes off as super cliche when we get two scenes in the span of two (in-game) days where the big girl is going "look, I'm eating more than everyone else." It's a bad trope and lazy writing in a game full of good writing.

I wouldn't call it lazy or cliche, and cliches like tropes exist for a reason and that's because they typically make sense.

An overweight self conscious girl would when put into a new environment want to take control of her situation. So to her making the jokes first about herself is better than others making it about her.

What you're complaining about is in effect human nature, like if you complained about how any of the other characters felt about about themselves for anything that isn't 100% unique a reason to feel bad.

I'm sure as Katie settles in, as you so rightfully noted she's only been here two in world days, and gets more comfortable she'll stop with the self deprecating jokes